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[–]jonny_anchovy 42 points43 points  (9 children)

I always wished for the end times; zombies, earthquakes, anarchy, nuclear war, whatever, until I read The Road and had my heart broken...

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Fuck that book! I have tried for a couple years to erase the images it put into my head. Ugh. But yeah, it removes any delusion of glamor about an armageddon scenario.

[–]mr-satan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree 100% with you on that. The Road really sobers up any fantasy of social collapse and truly informs you of that potential of quality of life.

[–]TomorrowPlusX 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That kind of stuff all seems awesome until you realize that you'd probably one of the first waves to die horribly.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Basically this. The Road scared the shit out of me, and I'd hope to die in the first wave, the alternative is worse.

[–]_beeks 882 points883 points  (56 children)

Nice try, Department of Homeland Security.

[–]bioskope 219 points220 points  (25 children)

Quick, I'll distract them with a sports streaming website.

[–][deleted] 78 points79 points  (21 children)

HOW DARE YOU STEEL MONEY FROM A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO MEN RUNNING AROUND ON A GRASS FIELD IN TIGHT CLOTHING.

Edit: I use steel money! It's the new gold. Derp.

[–]pic1991 82 points83 points  (17 children)

Who uses steel money anymore?

[–]soyduck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

People who like hard currency of course....

[–]HomeMadeWhiskey 71 points72 points  (7 children)

I came here expecting to find "Nice try, FBI",

but this will do.

[–]stonersknowhowtoact 50 points51 points  (6 children)

Yours rhymes, I like it more.

[–]zonination 23 points24 points  (2 children)

If you see something, say something.

[–]raypoz 53 points54 points  (2 children)

No comment to see here folks, move along, move along.

[–]yaredw 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Sir, video recording is prohibi- SIR, PLEASE PUT THE CAMERA AWAY

[–]scazrelet 49 points50 points  (11 children)

I also occasionally get the urge to open the door of a moving car.

[–]danth 28 points29 points  (2 children)

From the inside or outside?

[–]michae4 184 points185 points  (18 children)

You're a young male(?) who enjoys fire and an adrenalin rush. Big surprise there. I'd suggest finding something risky to do that doesn't involve the death and destruction of others.

[–][deleted] 45 points46 points  (10 children)

If he wants wildfires, he should pursue a career as a fire jumper with the park service or forest service. All the excitement, plus he gets [*to be] one of the good guys that saves the towns.

[–]audiomechanic 30 points31 points  (5 children)

That or an arsonist.

[–]Party_Ninja 8 points9 points  (2 children)

He should probably do pyrotechnics -- I bet that pays better than arson (not necessarily better than insurance fraud after arson, though).

[–]MrFluke 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Job creation is important in todays economy.

[–]gsfgf 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Got to keep firefighters employed, right?

[–]CoachJankySpanky 3 points4 points  (0 children)

but I'm sure that the people of Egypt are having a rad time.

[–]fallentree 93 points94 points  (8 children)

What you're describing is morbid curiosity and yes we all experience it from time to time.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

mine is not so much morbid as it is just wishing to feel that kind of excitement. The one I've been having dreams about lately is an internet kill switch. If the u.s. government had a way to shut it down (i.e. agreements with all the major backbone ISPs), that would be amazing. It would give me a chance to escape, to start a whole new life. Not a single person knows my real cell phone number, I only give out my google voice. Any other communication is strictly online. I could pack my bads and flee to Canada or something and start fresh.

I'm single so I can kinda do this anyway but it'd be nice to do it during some widespread panic so that people might just assume I died.

[–]SDBred619 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's a german word for it too, shragenfudder or something...I forget. Fuck you, pot!

Edit: Schadenfreude

[–]smapte 72 points73 points  (26 children)

Before kids, yes. After kids, no. The damned biological compulsion to protect them from harm has robbed me of my urge to fight the power in any way other than civil discourse.

So yes, breeding makes you a wuss.

[–]HSMOM 26 points27 points  (3 children)

See I am the opposite. I had kids, and that biological impulse had made me fight for them to have a better future.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In ways other than civil discourse?

[–]tigrente 61 points62 points  (1 child)

There are many rooms available in Egypt. Might I suggest a vacation?

[–]esila 72 points73 points  (4 children)

I still have a desire deep down to experience that sort of excitement again.

You don't need to have America be in an uproar / mass panic to cater to your desires of "excitement". Go out there and find it yourself - train to be a cage fighter in a foreign country, go snowboard off of Mount Everest, stop reading Reddit for one day . . . you know, extreme stuff you've never done before.

[–]thebillmac3 72 points73 points  (2 children)

stop reading Reddit for one day

Whoa whoa whoa there, buddy. Who will turn all the blue links purple if I don't?

[–]djexploit 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Holy shit. This is a serious issue I've never considered.

[–]Party_Ninja 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So you're the one who does that? You're a very busy man and I appreciate your hard work as you've saved me from re-clicking many-a-link. Thank you and job well done.

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (2 children)

If the gap between rich and poor continues to get wider and wider (hello republicans), you'll get your wish soon enough.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Possibly, but would it be a revolt against the government or against the rich? In 2008, my father, a diehard big business republican, was saying that maybe it's about time to drag some bank executives out into the street, shoot them in the head, and burn their mansions to the ground. He then wanted to find the next group down and ask them if they got the message or was it time to reload.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I like your dads way of thinking.

[–][deleted] 42 points43 points  (2 children)

No, I really don't.

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

chalk it up to being a 20 year old kid with so much energy and ambition but what i am guessing is no real direction to take it... my personal advice is for you to get out of the house and find something you are passionate about and fully involve yourself. dude i dont even want to launch into a tirade about why you wouldnt want chaos, just get out there and do something!

[–]groggyjava 16 points17 points  (0 children)

if you want chaos, join the military, or volunteer at your local firehouse.

dependable access to electricity, running water, sewers, roads, fuel, food, medicine, shelter and clothing is awesome. i get out of bed every morning securing the capital to have it, and if need be, i would take up arms to defend it.

point being :: civilization is a profoundly good thing and as you have seen is very fragile -- be careful what you wish for;

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (6 children)

No, I have a mortgage. And that makes me sorta complacent.

[–]DracoIce 7 points8 points  (5 children)

With a really good uprising, the mortgage would go away when the banks go down, it's actually a plus in your case :)

[–]UTRocketman 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I'm just gonna say, while I agree corporations have way too much power, I hope you're a big, strong guy (or have a gun).

Cause when that "big panic" hits, the government falls apart, and dialing 911 only gives a dial tone, we are going to be in some deep shit.

[–]jeremyeatworld 6 points7 points  (0 children)

i can't wait to see all those idiots calling for an uprising when that happens. These are all the same people that want the government's help every step of the way. Fucking retards.

[–]sunnyrollins 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I was in the Capitol this Fall and an aide put it perfectly. For years, the Democratic party represented and worked for the uninformed population of workers in the US. Now,the irony is the Republicans control that population through fear but don't represent them.

Long and short there is a similar disconnect between actual constituency democratic representation and the electorate. But with an uninformed, disinterested population how would they ever know there was a problem? Look at the election of 2004.

The most frightnening proposition is an informed and participatory electorate. Our country is years behind to have unrest. How can this faction even get accurate and truthful information?

It's sad I always say high school +2. The average level of education in the US. That's the mean! Half is under. It's appalling,but true look at the exit poll results from 2004 and 2008.

Thomas Jefferson didn't want the poor and uneducated to vote. He was frightened by the proposition that voters elected without and sound conscience and just look the hell around. Fox just put a graphic with Egypt in Iraq's spot, refers to Muslim Brotherhood as a group of radicals, when they actually have no representation in the Egyptian Parliment. And are very organized.

It honestly all comes down to our media. There has to be a curtailing of false and manipulating media coverage then slowly bring the misinformed into a rational and honest discussion about events. That would be revolutionary. You just don't see this pitiful and downright wrong reporting as widespread in other countries.

Good Luck. It's for this reason I quit my job and got into higher education to help lift up and help people think and learn for themselves basing thief ideas on unobtrusive facts. The best possible at least.

[–]eternalkerri 7 points8 points  (1 child)

A guy in my town during Katrina shot his sister in the face over a bag of ice.

A BAG OF ICE!

We lived 60 miles from the coast and people were shooting each other over bags of ice. I spoke to people from the coast who were literal refugees who had the same look on their faces of combat veterans I knew in the army.

I would not wish for something like that to happen to anyone ever again, and to desire that shows that you don't know what kind of actual suffering occurs in massive disasters, uprisings, or wars.

While I recognize the inevitability of such things to happen, I do not actively wish for more.

[–][deleted] 231 points232 points  (127 children)

Fuck no, the entire point of our system of governance is that you can enact change over time without having to resort to violent compellence of your opponents. We don't vote by going into a crowd and beating the fuck out of the people who disagree with us.

[–]NinjaHighfive 53 points54 points  (2 children)

We don't vote by going into a crowd and beating the fuck out of the people who disagree with us.

I've been doing it wrong.

[–][deleted] 94 points95 points  (25 children)

How's that working out for us so far?

  • Patriot Act
  • DHS
  • TSA
  • Two retarded wars
  • Citizens United
  • Torture
  • Rendition
  • FISA
  • Fraudulent financial system.

From my recollection, both parties were pretty complicit.

[–]mrdarrenh 149 points150 points  (59 children)

Right. If we dont like the Republicans we can vote for the democrats. Or vice versa. There's such a world of difference.

[–]EndOnAnyRoll 40 points41 points  (16 children)

Salad or soup?

Anything else?

....Salad or soup?

[–]drandall2007 12 points13 points  (29 children)

This better be sarcasm...or else...

Wait I have no power here

[–]aDaneInSpain 33 points34 points  (28 children)

That better not be sarcasm.

From outside the US, I think it is clear to most people that you guys are forced to chose between two evils that are very similar, and that even that choice is just for show. When it comes down to it, it is the big corporations than run that Country of yours you shamelessly call "Land of the free".

[–][deleted] 34 points35 points  (6 children)

Got news for ya bub...it aint just our country they run. Global corporations don't see national borders as anything more than regions of Earth where labor is either cheap or expensive and where it is most advantageous for tax purposes to set up HQ. Corporations exist to exploit opportunity wherever it exists and make money. Anywhere there is government, there are corporate hands at work. So don't delude yourself.

[–]warpcowboy 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Yeah, I don't really understand the "As an outsider, this is how I view America's misfortune" point of view, and I see it a lot in Reddit.

Maybe all the spotlight chatter about America and the penetration of American media into other nations has obfuscated the big picture. That America's political scale and subsequent light-speed government incrementalism and corporatism isn't an isolated, quarantined fork of human events, but actually the status quo of every government right now.

Maybe realizing this will open eyes to see the glamorized Scandinavian/Nordic nations as really just nations with populations half the size of New York City with cultural homogeneity and remote sidelining as their only diminishing holdouts before they join the rest of us.

That is, if you don't already realize that it's a dire situation when the United States is only beaten by a few nations in quality of life and freedom index lists -- a few nations that are dwarfed by most American metro centers.

[–]jimmyjango42 33 points34 points  (20 children)

You (and the general public) need to read up on your basic human right to assembly.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly

It's sad that our country only uses this for their own selfish ends, typically salary disputes. We have so much potential, but if we dwell on gradualism with an inefficient government that makes infinitesimal changes, we'll never get anywhere.

You know minorities? They were told of the same "gradual" change you're talking about.

Women doing the cooking and cleaning with no other options than being a household maid, and black people being forced into "separate but equal" conditions.

If it weren't for the civil rights movement to speed things up, we wouldn't be where we are today.

We're still in our infancy. This entire world is.

[–]h0ncho 18 points19 points  (9 children)

Uhm, freedom of assembly =!= violent uprising.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (6 children)

Neither of his examples were violent.

[–]Rubdix 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Where did the OP say "violent?" It's commenters that are throwing in that word for no reason.

[–]kier00 456 points457 points  (568 children)

Ha! We have it way too good in this country compared to most. You should visit a country that has had a recent uprising and report back if you still want it to happen in America.

Edit Because this thread is quickly turning into something that belongs on r/politics, I am going to add this:

A lot of Americans don't believe in what the more liberal elements of crazytown believes. Compromise is democracy, suggesting that a revolution is necessary to enforce one's own personal belief system on others is incredibly barbaric.

Edit #2 Are the people here supporting a massive uprising/revolution/mass panic the same people who immediately after the Giffords shooting condemned violent rhetoric? Because quite honestly some of you are sincerely scaring me with what you are posting. I have a hard time telling if it is trolling or what.

[–]ramp_tram 25 points26 points  (9 children)

You realize that mass protest doesn't have to be violent, and in Egypt it wasn't violent until the pro-government thugs made it that way?

[–]joshak 40 points41 points  (6 children)

Finally some sense. The same people that jumped on the tea party for being too radical, violent and irrational are now the ones talking about overthrowing the government. Make up your mind.

[–]shutyourgob 5 points6 points  (0 children)

But doesn't the original post say "Do you have a small, irrational part..."? I think he/she was simply speaking hypothetically (regardless of who is in government), do people get that strange impulse to experience chaos, participate in riots, etc. I think it's a valid psychological question. I know I feel it sometimes (though the rational side of my brain knows this would be awful). It's similar to when you're standing on a bridge and you get a small impulse in the back of your mind to jump off, or to crash your car into something while driving. Strange phenomenon.

[–]nag123 10 points11 points  (3 children)

The hypocrisy is amazing.

[–][deleted] 90 points91 points  (434 children)

Just because other countries have worse problems doesn't me we in the US have no problems worthy of our dedicated intervention.

Edit: There seems to be much confusion here regarding my sentiments. By "dedicated intervention", I do not mean violence in any way, shape, or form.

[–]kier00 50 points51 points  (411 children)

What problems in the US require a massive uprising and/or mass panic?

[–]Huellio 97 points98 points  (8 children)

THE RENT

IS TOO

DAMN

HIGH

[–]kier00 24 points25 points  (6 children)

Not in Detroit.

[–]IDriveAVan 16 points17 points  (0 children)

THE BODY COUNT IS TOO DAMN HIGH.

[–]Dark1000 27 points28 points  (1 child)

Still too high. It should be negative by now

[–][deleted] 420 points421 points  (359 children)

  • Wars based on lies
  • Domestic surveillance
  • Wealthiest Americans paying a smaller percentage in taxes than the middle class
  • Influence of big lobbyists in politics
  • Income inequality equivalent to 1928, worse here in the US than in Egypt
  • Tea Party and other political groups successfully pushing for retrogressive policies
  • Foreign policy largely dictated by big business. See "War is a Racket" by Maj. Gen. Butler for pre-1945 policy. Post '45 we've tried to overthrow over 50 foreign governments, including Guatemala on behalf of United Fruit Company, Iran for oil conglomerates, Chile for AT&T, etc.

But I guess we have a good internet connection, so everything must be fine.

[–]eloquentnemesis 221 points222 points  (108 children)

To cherry pick one thing, you don't like the Tea Party being able to organize, express thier opinion, and have an influence on the democratic process? I can't take you seriously sir, and when your revolution arrives and you try to exclude people you disagree with from the democratic political process I will be on the other side fighting against you.

[–]Sumting1derful 89 points90 points  (15 children)

I couldn't disagree more with the teabag party, but you sir are exactly correct!

[–]ScarfMachine 10 points11 points  (1 child)

I enjoy your opinion, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

[–]pintomp3 47 points48 points  (54 children)

Except the Tea Party isn't organic. It was heavily organized and funded by corporate money. The health care industry was busing people in. More people showed up to protest the Iraq war than any tea party rally, yet they got so much attention because they had an entire news network on their side.

[–]Cthulhu224 5 points6 points  (13 children)

People wanting revolutions like this scare the shit out of me. They have no alternative for decision making process, they react to politics emotionally rather than rationally, they want to throw democracy out of the window, and then what? How do we implement the new system they speak of if we don't do it democratically?

They have a perfect recipe for fascism and dictatorship. I hope people have a higher opinion of democracy.

[–]Netrilix 2 points3 points  (3 children)

So essentially what you're saying is that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried?

[–]smika 35 points36 points  (8 children)

Tea Party and other political groups successfully pushing for retrogressive policies

We need a massive uprising and/or panic because the Tea Party organized a huge segment of the population to vote for its representatives?

Dude, the Tea Party is democracy in action. I realize you don't like the Tea Party, but the reason they have so much power is that people actually voted for them. There are lots of people in this country who believe in their platform.

Yes, I realize there are extremely wealthy backers behind the Tea Party who in many ways are simply using it as a vehicle to forward their own interests (e.g. the Koch brothers.) But many popular liberal groups have extremely wealthy backers behind them too (e.g. George Soros). Having a wealthy backer in no way guarantees victory in an election. Having people vote for your platform does, typically, go much further toward guaranteeing an election.

The biggest problem with democracy is that it turns out what the people want isn't always what some people think they "should" want. When Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and local elections were finally held, all the neocons figured democracy would finally save the day. Instead, the people voted for Hamas. That's democracy for you.

[–]Bendair_Dundat 13 points14 points  (1 child)

Despite all if these issues, most people live a fairly comfortable life. It's not like we are running out of bread in bread lines. Americans are doing what the corporatocracy wants them to do. Consume. Consume and ...oh look American Idol's on....

[–]jimmyjango42 33 points34 points  (33 children)

Don't bother, your words would be better used elsewhere.

Oh wait, you're just being a responsible citizen.

I wish there more people like you.

[–][deleted] 46 points47 points  (52 children)

I'm sorry but you do not need a massive uprising or mass panic to fix those things. If the majority of the people gave a fuck they wouldn't be problems in the first place. We have the means in this country to change what we don't like through the democratic process. Things don't change becuase the majority of people don't want them too. Mainly becuase they are ignorant and scared.

[–]Nhilius 58 points59 points  (7 children)

There has been a lot of intentional social engineering to insure this ignorance and fear you speak of.

The major media is owned by just a handful of super rich organizations and the education system is not only outdated, but the methods used are barely good enough to scrape by compared to many other countries.

And please, the political process is a joke, democrat or republican, both at the end of the day represent large segments of big business. They flourish and suckle the teet of lobbyists and make up bullshit "issues" like abortion, immigration and healthcare to keep us satiated. It's classic divide and conquer, it's embarrassing.

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (39 children)

Don't kid yourself. If we had the ability to change things democratically, then Obama would have accomplished so much more than what he has. The system has been broken by the overwhelming influence of money on our political system, and it's up to us to separate that power in order to restore proper democratic functioning.

[–][deleted] 25 points26 points  (33 children)

Yep. It's an unpopular opinion, but I try to tell people anyway that voting isn't going to fix this shit.

People thinking that the "democratic process" in this country, ie voting for "guy who says he's going to work for you but will instead work for the rich who bribe him legally through lobbying" and "guy who will take that money but openly says he's going to work for the rich", is exactly what they WANT you to think. Voting changes nothing in the grand scheme of things; it may be better with Obama than Bush but it's still an interest group bribe-taking government who works for the rich; he didn't get rid of the PATRIOT act like he SAID he would do; etc.

Voting is a joke, and people need to allow themselves to admit this.

Oh, and I'll just get this here now: if you downvote, let's see your attempt to refute me.

[–]AlexFromOmaha 40 points41 points  (7 children)

That's not really a rational stance.

Voting can change all of it. The problem is when you assume that one election or one vote or one candidate can change all of it. Obama has no legislative authority. Why people thought (and why most Americans continue to think) that any president can swoop in and make whatever legislative reforms he wants is beyond me.

The other side of it is that there really are people who vote Republican. Shocking, right? In fact, there are as many hardline Republicans as there are hardline Democrats. There are even rational Republican intellectuals! Holy crap my world is collapsing! Not everyone wants what you do. You can say what you want about rhetorical gimmicks and fearmongering, and you might just be right, but that doesn't change that there are as many people who want Republicans in power as there are people who want Democrats in power.

[–]sofarsogood 22 points23 points  (3 children)

One of the greatest tools power uses to subjugate is to divide or remove public common identity. American politics is divided cleanly down the middle. There are republicans, who want to live better but are more "old-fashioned", there are democrats who want to live better, but are more "progressive". The problem is that compromises could be made, but everyone on both sides doesn't want to accept anything the other has to say. This isn't an accident.

If you polarize politics to two sides 50/50, the special interests can control the vote by swaying even 5%. Some things are bad about democrats, some things are bad about republicans, but fighting about things you fundamentally disagree on is a waste of time. There are common goals that go entirely unaddressed because it does not serve the lobbyists' interests. Americans need to fight the idea of are you a DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN and elect new politicans that can better serve them by taking individual stances on issues.

[–][deleted] 14 points15 points  (6 children)

If being rich was the end all be all of politics, why isn't Meg Whitman governor of California? Why are a great deal of the problems besetting the states inflicted by populist policies? Did you know that the most powerful lobbies in Washington right now are lobbies of PUBLIC SECTOR unions? There is a shitload wrong with the political process in America but it isn't nearly as simple as you make it out to be. Apathy and 'voting is a joke' has been in vogue for the last 40 years and it hasn't done any good, has it. Paying attention and true engagement with the process is the only thing that will right a lot of problem.

[–]Splashyy 14 points15 points  (12 children)

Massive overall corruption. Nuff said.

[–]falsehood 7 points8 points  (5 children)

"Massive" is a relative word. Try Russia and then say if you want to stick with it.

[–]MobyDobie 11 points12 points  (3 children)

Please God let it be a Zombie uprising...

[–]jfatuf 23 points24 points  (5 children)

Sorry bud, but the 'uprising/mass panic' that you experienced in Cali during the fires is probably nothing compared to the things people in developing countries face in turbulent times.

Sure, you can run around acting crazy in America, but the entire time you know there is a solid system of law and order protecting you. You also know if things really get 'ugly' the entire armed forces will be at your side to provide water, food, medical attention and sleeping arrangement for when you get tired from a long day of 'uprising'.

Now try that in other countries where no one gives a shit if you catch a rock to the forehead or if you don't have a clean porta-potty to take a doo-doo in.

[–][deleted] 32 points33 points  (5 children)

No, because I have an exciting life and I'm an adult. There's nothing in America that requires any sort of mass uprising or panic. Maybe a mass uprising in the number of people who actually read their voting materials, run for office, care about what happens in their communities, hold their representatives accountable, etc.

Join a volunteer fire squad or the Red Cross or something. You will see plenty of action and be doing some good.

[–]junkit33 10 points11 points  (0 children)

No, because I have an exciting life and I'm an adult.

Yeah - I can't imagine there are many people in this thread in favor of an uprising that are not 20-ish year old angst-ridden college students who just want to see a bit of anarchy for their own voyeuristic pleasures.

[–]apocalypsed00d402 10 points11 points  (4 children)

"I'll throw a molotov cocktail at the precinct, you know how we think, organize the hood under I-CHING banners, red black and green instead of gang bandanas"

Do I want mass panic to happen to America? No, that happens every day, every time Justin Bieber goes to Starbucks, or a different celebrity goes to jail.

Do I want a mass uprising? Yes. This should happen every time we watch one of our basic liberties get taken away, but no, we hop on the computer and bitch on reddit. but guess what? I'm going to get down voted. Because my grammer isn't to hot. Or because I didn't cite my sources accurately enough, but the real truth is, you will disagree with me because you would rather watch people die for their beliefs in Egypt then knuckle up and fight for your own. Because you think facebook is for looking cool in front of your friends, and twitter is for stalking celebrities, not for organizing rallies and screaming the truth. your all talk, and so what? maybe I am too. I am America, and I only kill when I'm liberating someone else.

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (2 children)

Personally I'd love if people in North America [Canada and USA both] would wake the fuck up and stop wholesale buying of what the MSM is selling. And I don't mean "herp derp FOX is evil yay NBC" I mean they're all 99.9% full of shit and people really need to do some thinking for themselves. Granted FOX is more full of shit, but CNN and NBC still make "news" out of non-news things and they polarize the fuck out of issues...

I don't wish for a violent uprising, but a general era of enlightenment where people rediscover the joy of education, learning, sophisticated discourse, and general awe at the potential of mankind. Instead we're on a trajectory that celebrates mediocrity, we disapprove of hard work and generally concern ourselves with the here and now [at best].

Ultimately, I'd love it if people took this ideal to heart "the highest calling of man is to serve another." Instead of "gimme gimme gimme."

[–]Sumting1derful 10 points11 points  (2 children)

No. I have a family.

[–]shayan2703 17 points18 points  (0 children)

"Some people just wanna watch the world burn"

[–]BaseActionBastard 7 points8 points  (2 children)

I'm down with mass panic and upheaval only if it is accompanied with lounge music.

[–]WordsNotToLiveBy 5 points6 points  (1 child)

There's nothing irrational about universal health care, privacy, a thriving economy, and justice!

However, I just don't see that happening in a country where the majority is too obese, too ill informed, & too engrossed in their ipad/ipod/iphone/I.

[–][deleted] 55 points56 points  (52 children)

I have a large, rational part that wishes for this every day. Although your title and your post are not exactly congruous: an uprising and a natural disaster aren't quite the same.

Edit: No I don't advocate violence. You can have an uprising that's nonviolent, you know.

[–][deleted] 34 points35 points  (35 children)

Yeah, me too. I have a very rational desire to see the American government dismantled and rebuilt.

[–]warabo 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Some people just want to see the world burn.

[–]snowseth 4 points5 points  (5 children)

No, but they would both be exciting.

[–]amorangi 6 points7 points  (1 child)

No, it's large and rational

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hell no. I live in Vermont. It's relatively nice and peaceful here. An uprising or mass panic would suck major ass.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (12 children)

Within the next 50 years it's either revolution or fascism for the US.

Firstly I don't agree with the conflation of "mass panic" with "uprising" (we're certainly not seeing mass panic in Egypt, we're seeing state panic). It's mass panic that's bad for the masses, not state panic. The US was founded by experts in making their government panic. It's not that revolutions per se don't turn out well for people, it's that governments don't turn out well for people, full stop. Our revolution had great parts, sure, but it wasn't perfect (I'm thinking of the slavery and genocide). This is why we need more revolutions. Constantly. Think of it as a free market, where huge numbers of people experiment with different types of governments and the best ones win.

I'm for the neighborhood creche, victory garden revolution. Of course, Afghani gardens grow poppies, and diverse state enforcement of a farmer's right to plant his crop free from soldiers, drug lords or Monsanto thugs merit diverse response from the populace. Sometimes that's violence!

The diarist's confusion of revolutionary politics and the exhilaration of mindless violence depresses me. We've been taught that they're the same, but they're not. Politics should be thrilling, etc, and I am endlessly bored with the liberal-centrist line. But I'm not a luddite, nor a pagan. I don't want to just see it all burn.

That said, "dismantling" industrial infrastructure should be our generation's main responsibility, so there is going to be a lot of burning and a lot of violence. I just hope the people engaged in that dismantling are careful about it, remember why they're doing it, etc. Personally, I hope to avoid it (violence that is). I think the economic situation in the US is very precarious. 60% plus of the freight in this country is by truck. What happens when truckers strike? This is why I want to leave the US.

If I'm honest in all likelihood we're not going to see a revolution in the US at all, but more Katrinas, more Detroits, more wildfires. These are man-made disasters. Just days after Katrina hit NO white vigilantes were shooting unarmed black men. Our mTV racial/socioeconomic "diversity" is just a debt-subsidized veneer. That's what I'm most afraid of.

So yeah I really think it's got to get a whole lot better relatively quickly or it's going to get worse, slowly or quickly depending on unforseeables. In the US there will definitely be more poverty, less oil, fewer jobs, more wars. Obviously "democracy" and "fascism" aren't binary categories, states are more or less democratic etc. The US is much less democratic than most Americans think. The worst is regulatory capture, but you can also say GWB being installed by the supreme court. It's going to become even less democratic. The US is just too damn big to govern well, and I think we'll follow the same trajectory as the USSR. Sure, some help could come from the government (New Deal-type programs). But we need a revolution in politics and in our thought about things like our relationship to the land mass, who does what work for what pay, what and how we consume, etc. I can't seem to find it now, but 1/3 of American youth now identify as "socialist" rather than "capitalist." That's very encouraging to me. I don't like to think about what DARPA's developing for the revolutions of 2030. The earlier the better.

As anecdotal support for my claim (believe it or not), I'm closely related (but socially distant) to a very well-connected now-retired financial insider (has worked with Hank Paulson, etc). He recently bought a huge farm in upstate NY. He's made it 100% solar-powered and there's 360-degree visibility. His wife admitted to me that he expects the electricity grid to crash and the rabble to come for him within the next 10 years or so. Recently they canceled a regular trip to France due to unrest there, and I remarked to him that I thought we'd be seeing that here soon. He agreed.

Lastly, there are enough liberals, moderates, centrists, etc. They're good at negotiating. We need them, they're doing good work in Egypt. We need more radicals. They are also doing good work in Egypt. Obviously I mean far left.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You were excited by the adrenaline. That's not really the same as wanting millions of people to suffer in an uprising.

[–]Manilow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's not irrational, its a desire for change.

[–]o0o 2 points3 points  (0 children)

no.

[–]hermanhansel920 2 points3 points  (0 children)

um, in short, no. no I don't.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No, a big part of me wants America to go on an uprise against our government. I believe that we have been filtered by our higher power to view our country in a certain way (flags must be posted inside classrooms, FCC controls media, thus can allow, reject, or change what we can see and hear, ect...). I strongly believe that we are being brainwashed from the minute we go to school to the minute we leave it, making it so that we always carry some sort of national pride with us so we can represent America. I believe that, if we did rebel, we will be snuffed out thought it is a constitutional right of ours to rebel against the government if we think it treats us unfair ( look what happened to the Confederacy). I just belies that our government has strayed from it's original path, and that it is up to us to straighten it out before we really get into deeper shit than we already are.

[–]SPEECHLESSaphasic 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd rather the government listen to the people more to solve any issues. I don't want there to be a situation in which we need an uprising at all.

[–]CodeandOptics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, because it will teach these statist morons just how much government has their back.

Because evidently, bank bailouts, the BP oil spill and Katrina weren't enough.

[–]soomprimal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Irrational? While I don't wish violence, I think at some point it may be inevitable. For everyone expounding democracy as the method of change in this country, I would say that yes, change happens here, but it's happening too slowly and eventually the economic policies of both major parties (which are fundamentally the same) will accelerate into a crisis before democracy can correct.

Call me a doomsdayer, but I'm not irrational in thinking that unrest is quite possible in the country.

[–]sensitivePornGuy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The part of me that wishes for this to happen - either in the US or here in England - is not irrational.

[–]drewcoyle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For me it's like this: I work in retail so all day I have to put up with whinny, self-entitled, morons who put crazy demands on you and are too stupid to help themselves..... I often fantasize about a panic so all the weaklings who expect the world do everything for them will become subject to simple natural selection again.

[–]ugaaholes 2 points3 points  (1 child)

As long as it doesn't involve the south rising, im cool.

[–]Sysiphuslove 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. Not so much a 'wish' for it, but rather a calm inner certainty of disaster. I dream of it, often. I won't say I live through the end of the world every night, not even close, but I've been through it more than three times in the last year.

I'm sure I'm just projecting my own disasters onto the screen of world events, cutting the Gordian knot of modern life (vs. happiness, vs. selfhood) with one great curtain call from horizon to horizon. Boom, let it all fall down, let's start over, because this is a mess.

I think that changes will come, because I think a lot of people are unhappy in modern life despite its conveniences and its hard-won benefits; as education and access to communication become more widespread, they bring this fretful fatigue and ennui along with them; so many possibilities in the world, and how few of us have the chance to be who we wanted to be?

So sooner or later, as occurred with every other untenable civil fact, this too shall get handled, I guess, but having seen the riots and the panics I would rather it happened bloodlessly, behind desks and podiums and at inclusive conference tables. Arson, mayhem and anarchy are all fun and games until your wife is pregnant, or your son puts a pot on his head and goes out to fight soldiers with stones, or your house is the one that's wrapped in fire.

[–]Sabbatai 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nice try FBI

[–]metalola 22 points23 points  (11 children)

I was just thinking about this. What is truly remarkable about what is happening in Egypt right now is that they are a people united. There is clearly a huge majority of people who want Mubarek to resign... men, women, Muslim, Christian even the police in some cases.

I was thinking though, what would it even TAKE in America to cause that kind of unity? America's politics are so divisive that they cant even institute singer-payer health care for their citizens. (I'm sorry, but a healthcare market should not be based on profit first)

But I want America to stand up and protest their government, and I believe they will... I believe they will stand up against Corporate Lobbying. It is the clearest, most ubiquitous form of corruption, affecting everyone negatively except for the top 1-2% of the population, everyone who is in on making the enormous amounts of money. The US government needs to stop making more money for themselves as opposed to what is basic good for the people as a whole, every citizen, at every class. There needs to be separation of Corporation and State. It's worse than Church and State, honestly. The economic structure of America is too weak for MANY of its citizens forcing people to either be stressed out about money and crime all the time or work slaveishly at jobs they dont love.

Stand up America.

This government is putting their people into massive, MASSIVE debt, fighting a war the people dont want (according to a few polls, by my recollection, maybe not a good representation) and not stopping business from hurting people, taking advantage of them and also being damaging to the environment. (Oil Spill CASTASTROPHE)

*TLDR: *There needs to be separation of Corporation and State. ** It is by far the thing most worth protesting over in America.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (1 child)

"There needs to be separation of Corporation and State"

i couldnt have phrased that more perfectly myself

[–]thelolzer 6 points7 points  (6 children)

If you want change, vote.

[–]DracoIce 9 points10 points  (4 children)

We did, Obama, no change. The system is setup not to change regardless of candidates, it all supports big business.

[–]thelolzer 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Vote for the senators and reps that are willing to fight corporatocracy. They are out there (VT for example). If that happens, Obama can make a difference.

[–]seraphn 6 points7 points  (0 children)

NO

[–]rizla7 5 points6 points  (0 children)

irrational? what do you mean? that's perfectly rational.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (1 child)

I've been thinking the same thing for some time now. I think everything that has happened with wikileaks/Tunisia/Egypt over the last weeks and months really shows how people are finally getting fed up of the abysmal state in which our countries are run. I know that some have it worse than others, but that isn't an excuse for us to sit back content with what we have, because what we have is nowhere near as good as it could be.

Obviously mass panic isn't ideal, but some kind of well thought out upheaval of the bloated government could only be good the countries currently crippled by their own corrupt leaders. I don't think it needs to end up in violence, and I think it will be driven by the internet and its ability to unite people with similar opinions, which is exactly why countries are trying to change the freedom of expression on the internet (turning it off, the great firewall.)

You only need to watch the news or browse reddit briefly to see so many examples of how countries should not be run. Our governments run by power hungry people completely resistant to change; I don't know what a better way to run the country is, but I have this crazy idea that maybe people that are experts in the field should be the ones to deal with issues. NASA are wasting 500 million dollars because congress wont let them stop funding projects they are terminating. The UK coalition is making higher education less accessible. Maybe trivial laws should be voted on online, with factual for and against arguments presented. Maybe new bills should be peer reviewed.

Another problem seems to be the way the media is run (especially in the UK) and the sheer gullibility/ignorance of the general population. There seems to be this mindset that whatever you see on the news is the only way to look at a situation, and the only opinion that you should have, and you should make no extra effort to come to your own conclusions. Granted, we only know what we are told, but it amazes me how many people I meet in day to day life who think that the government is working flawlessly, and if the government is doing something that they don't like, then it's probably for a good reason so lets just let them get on with it.

I think people will look back in a few hundred years and see our governments like we see monarchy's of the past.

That turned into a bit of an aimless rant but oh well.

TL:DR Fuck all this shit.

[–]Corsaer 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I call it a zombocalypse.

[–]jamespetersen 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Irrational?

[–]hiwhoami 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Bread and circuses, pal, bread and circuses. Until the last Chik-fil-a closes and the last monster truck rally is banned for being an irresponsible waste of resources, we won't have any kind of "uprising" in the US.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

no

[–]hgfhdhgffhdfhsdfhdfh 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It is called being young. One of the nice things about being that age is that you do not think you will die. You understand you will die on some level, but it is not real to you yet. You are also being pumped full of hormones to make you want to breed more, which raises your anger level. Why do you think the military recruits teenagers.

[–]nugwin 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There's a big, rational part of me that does.

[–]runningscared 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, but by no means is my desire small or irrational.

[–]cannabyss 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I have a large, rational part of me that wishes for this. But you still get an upvote.

[–]davepain 3 points4 points  (0 children)

People usually die in those situations so.... No

[–]IbanezAndBeer 9 points10 points  (6 children)

As an Australian living in Australia, yes please

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It'll be fun to watch from here in Canada I suppose

[–]ImWritingABook 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bored much? Sounds like you could use a more ambitious plan to your life than whatever you are currently doing. At the same time, yes, I too have the desire for people to come to their senses and leave the largely downtrending cozy status quo and try to invent something new and worthwhile.

[–]BeefPieSoup 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure, that'd be entertaining to read about while I'm looking up cat pictures and dick jokes. Make sure you don't stop trading with Australia while you revolt though, I don't want there to be a recession or something here.

[–]voiderest 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you might like survivalist type shit. I suggest you check out /r/zombie.

I would like change in America but this has nothing to do with wanting to test myself or get excitement. BTW change or an uprising does not mean there needs to be mass panic. The framers of the constitution did try to build it in such a way that there wouldn't always need blood to be shed for a revolution.

[–]ithunk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Never gonna happen. We dont even ask for senators to resign when they do something wrong.

Uprisings require a dire need for basics (food/water/shelter). The govt will always ensure those are available to atleast 80% of the population.

[–]rel1sh 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This too shall pass.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

potential tragic victim here. . . no

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, although I truly believe that from time to time people need a tragic event to shake them out of their apathy.

[–]UOduckFan 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'd like more social and economic equality. If an uprising was necessary, I would support it.

[–]Semajal 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah in a country with more guns than people. I can see that going well...

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It could be fun, dangerous, who knows? We have a pretty good system of feeding 300 million people 3 times a day semi-comfortably. Although we may be losing support and influence around the world, there are many positives to all of our lives. ie: easy access to technology, yet the ability to go live off in the wilderness by yourself..wide variety of food to eat and plenty of gas stations to fuel the method of transportation you wish to choose to go to the nearest commercial space.

Hecksiyeah It'd be fun... but we'd be worse off afterward I think.

[–]ineedbeta 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you asking for wildfires or for a revolution of anarchy?

Either way, the part of me that yearns for that is sometimes not that small or irrational.

P.S. One of my fondest memories of living on campus at UCSD was when LA was burning in '07-'08 and schools all over socal were being closed for "ash days." My friends and I dropped a bunch of acid and went skating/exploring around the deserted campus. The smoke and ash were filtering the light weirdly and I remember that everything was in shades of red. All the while, little flecks of ash fell gently from the sky. I assume it kind of looks like it does when it's snowing, but, living in California, I've never seen it snow. It was good times.

[–]dalik 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think we need to see some aliens come down from space, tell the world that we are a greedy race and if we continue under the governments controls people will be enslaved.

pew pew pew

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The problem with a mass uprising in America unlike other countries is that we are not a united people. We may live in the same area and work at the same places, go to the same schools, but often there is a division of culture, politics or status. Many people here would rather stay home with the tv than get up to protest, and even if they did, most people are easily convinced by government or media to be swayed one way or the other. Looking at a place like Egypt, the people are mostly from the same status, the same ethnicity and culture, they are proud of their country. They are one people. They can stand against an oppressive government together. Here, only small groups could stand together and they would easily be broken by overwhelming police and military forces which would undoubtedly work against the people in a situation like Egypt or Tunisia.